'I'm a good manager and I believe in myself'

Declan Devine admitted it was ‘weird’ to be back at the Brandywell after leading Bohemians to three points this evening.

Dean Williams’ second half penalty proved the difference and took Bohs six points clear at the top of the Premier Division.

“It’s a huge win for us,” he said afterwards. “I think it was 2019 the last time Bohs beat Derry, but more importantly, it’s a massive response to our defeat on Friday night. We showed tremendous character, we had moments where we had to dig deep and play on the counter attack because we were missing four or five players ourselves so we were down a lot of bodies. All in all, to be able to come to a venue like this with a new squad is a massive, massive three points, We’ve had five away games in the opening nine and to sit with 21 points from 27 is full testament to the character of the players.”

Devine, who managed at Derry City for four seasons, qualifying for Europe on three occasions and winning the FAI Cup in 2012, admitted it was a strange feeling to be back at the Brandywell in the opposition dug-out.

“I have been here for 18 or 19 years of my life and I’ve had every role here that you could imagine,” he reflected. “My life has changed I’ve gone to a humungous football club in Bohemian and I’m very proud to manage that club and my sole focus is them now, but a lot of my life memories is built around this ground and to come here tonight is weird. But I have to concentrate on what’s best for Bohemians now, and that was to come here and be hard to beat and put on a good display and try and take three points and thankfully we were able to do that.”

Bohemians is the first senior role Devine has had since leaving Derry in 2021, and so far it is going well, with seven wins from the opening nine games making the Gypsies the team to catch in the Premier Division.

“I’m a good manager,” Devine insisted. “I’ve been involved in the game all my life, I haven’t had another job but I’m a good manager. Whether it was at Bohs or somewhere else, I believe in myself, I build good teams, I play a nice style of football. It’s a brilliant opportunity to work at a top club. I back myself and I always have and I’ve had a fantastic career to date and I don’t plan on going anywhere anytime soon.”